Phantoms’ magic number remains two

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown Phantoms’ magic number for clinching their second consecutive USHL playoff berth remains two heading into today’s game against Team USA in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Saturday, the Chicago Steel kept their faint playoff hopes alive with a 3-1 victory over one of the Team USA squads.

The fourth-place Phantoms (33-22-0, 66 points) have a 16-point lead on the Steel (22-28-4, 50 points) and own the tiebreaker (head-to-head record). The top four teams in each conference qualify for the postseason.

The Phantoms take a two-game winning streak into the arena where they last loss. Tuesday, Team USA pounded Youngstown, 8-2.